Friday, June 24, 2016

Relive the magic and the music with four versions of the film plus all-new bonus features!

With the Release of the Walt Disney Signature Collection Edition on Digital HD Sept. 6 and Blu-ray™ Sept. 20

BURBANK, Calif., June 24, 2016 — Twenty-five years ago, Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” broke ground as the first animated feature film to receive an Academy Award® nomination for best picture, and now this tale as old as time joins the Walt Disney Signature Collection on Sept. 6 on Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere, and on Sept. 20 on Blu-ray™ and DVD.

The beloved animated classic has truly stood the test of time and now a whole new generation of viewers are invited to be our guest and fall in love with this enchanting tale, its captivating characters and unforgettable, award-winning music score and original song, “Beauty and the Beast.”

The Walt Disney Signature Collection edition features four versions of “Beauty and the Beast.” The Blu-ray release will include the original theatrical film; an extended version with the “Human Again” song sequence and a never-before-released on home entertainment sing-along version. The original work-in-progress version will be available digitally and on Disney Movies Anywhere.

There is also a host of all-new bonus extras including a rare opportunity to gather around the piano with some of Disney’s greatest composers, including Alan Menken (“Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin”), Stephen Schwartz (“The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” “Pocahontas”), Kristen Anderson-Lopez (“Frozen,” Disney’s upcoming “Gigantic”), Robert Lopez (“Frozen,” Disney’s upcoming “Gigantic”) and Lin-Manuel Miranda (Disney’s upcoming “Moana”) as they sing and share how they’ve personally been inspired by the film’s award-winning music; a look at how Walt Disney himself sought to adapt this famous fairytale; a nostalgic look back with Paige O’Hara, the voice of Belle; behind-the-scenes access into the recording booth with the cast; and a sneak peek at Disney’s upcoming live-action re-telling of “Beauty and the Beast,” arriving in theaters in 2017.

• Menken & Friends: 25 Years of Musical Inspiration – Get a front-row seat for an intimate discussion between legendary music composers from classic and future Disney films, including Alan Menken (“Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin”), Stephen Schwartz (“The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” “Pocahontas”), Kristen Anderson-Lopez (“Frozen,” Disney’s upcoming “Gigantic”), Robert Lopez (“Frozen,” Disney’s upcoming “Gigantic”) and Lin-Manuel Miranda (Disney’s upcoming “Moana”). Discover how the composers are personally connected, how they first experienced “Beauty and the Beast” and how they find inspiration for their own films. And watch as they pay tribute to the film’s award-winning music score and the man who has inspired them all—Alan Menken.

• #1074: Walt, Fairy Tales & Beauty and the Beast – Long before “Beauty and the Beast” became the instant classic we know and love, Walt Disney made two attempts—between the 1930s and 1950s—to adapt the famous fairy tale into an animated film. Discover what Walt and his team was dreaming up through Walt’s actual voice recordings, archived artwork, story notes, and learn why the project was sidelined for decades.

• Always Belle – The original voice of Belle, Paige O’Hara, reminisces about earning the role of the beautiful bookworm in “Beauty and the Beast” and recalls how the iconic character changed her life and continues to inspire fans both young and old.

• The Recording Sessions – Go in the recording booth with the cast of Beauty and the Beast and see what went into adding voices to the characters and the lines we know and love.

• 25 Fun Facts About Beauty and the Beast – Disney Channel’s Gus Kamp and Kayla Maisonet host this entertaining countdown featuring little-known fun facts, anecdotes and hidden Easter Eggs (references to Disney animated films and characters) from one of the most cherished animated films of all time.

• “Beauty and The Beast” Sneak Peek – An exciting first look into the live-action re-telling of “Beauty and the Beast,” which refashions the classic characters from the tale as old as time for a contemporary audience, staying true to the original music while updating the score with several new songs.

DIGITAL HD* & DISNEY MOVIES ANYWHERE:

• Classic Bonus Features – These offerings from prior home entertainment releases include over five hours of bonus material, such as an alternate version of “Be Our Guest” and the “Beauty and the Beast” music video performed by Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson, and deleted scenes.

* Bonus features may vary by retailer

Walt Disney Pictures’ magical animated classic “Beauty and the Beast” captures the magical journey of Belle (voice of Paige O’Hara), an independent and intelligent, modern-day heroine who’s taken prisoner by a hideous beast (voice of Robby Benson) in his castle. Despite her precarious situation, Belle befriends the castle’s enchanted staff—a teapot, a candelabra and a mantel clock, among others—and ultimately learns to see beneath the Beast’s exterior to discover the heart and soul of a prince.

“Beauty and the Beast” was nominated for six Academy Awards® and was the first animated feature to receive an Academy Award® nomination for best picture. It won two Oscars®, including best song, by the renowned Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, and best original score (Menken), as well as a Golden Globe Award® for best comedy/musical.“Beauty and the Beast” was Disney’s first animated film adapted into a Broadway musical, which ran for 5,464 performances from 1994-2007 and has delighted more than 35 million people worldwide. On March 17, 2017, audiences will experience the thrilling retelling of the original tale through Disney’s live-action film, “Beauty and the Beast,” in which Emma Watson (“Harry Potter” films) plays Belle and eight-time Oscar® winner Alan Menken returns to recreate his Academy Award®-winning music score.DISC SPECIFICATIONS:Product SKUs: Blu-ray Combo Pack, Digital HD/SD, Disney Movies AnywhereFeature Run Time: Approximately 85 minutesRating: G in U.S. and Canada Bonus material not ratedAspect Ratio: Blu-ray Feature Film = 1080p High Definition / 1.78:1 DVD Feature Film = 1.78:1Audio: Blu-ray = English 7.1 DTS-HDMA, Spanish and French 5.1 Dolby Digital Language TracksDVD = English, Spanish, and French 5.1 Dolby Digital Language TracksSubtitles: English SDH, French & Spanish

ABOUT THE WALT DISNEY SIGNATURE COLLECTION:The Walt Disney Signature Collection includes groundbreaking films created or inspired by the imagination and legacy of Walt Disney, featuring timeless stories and characters that have touched generations. Each release will offer special features for every member of your family plus a unique digital experience.

ABOUT DISNEY MOVIES ANYWHERE (DMA):Disney Movies Anywhere (DMA) is an engaging and family-friendly cloud-based digital movie service that makes it simple to buy your favorite Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars movies once and watch them anywhere. With DMA you can explore Disney’s library of over 450 eligible digital movies, discover hours of new and exclusive short-form content, and watch your digital movies from the comfort of the living room or across multiple mobile devices. You can add the free DMA app to a multitude of devices including iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Android mobile phones and tablets, Android TV, Amazon’s Fire tablets, Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, Roku, and Xbox 360. Then, connect your DMA account with participating providers including iTunes, Amazon Video, VUDU, Google Play, and Microsoft Movies & TV and your eligible movies will be shared across all your connected platforms. In addition, you can redeem Digital Copy codes found in Disney, Pixar and Marvel Blu-rays and DVDs, as well as earn Disney Movie Rewards points with every digital purchase.

ABOUT THE WALT DISNEY STUDIOS:For over 90 years, The Walt Disney Studios has been the foundation on which The Walt Disney Company was built. Today, the Studio brings quality movies, music and stage plays to consumers throughout the world. Feature films are released under the following banners: Disney, including Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios; Disneynature; Marvel Studios; Lucasfilm; and Touchstone Pictures, the banner under which live-action films from DreamWorks Studios are distributed. The Disney Music Group encompasses the Walt Disney Records and Hollywood Records labels, as well as Disney Music Publishing. The Disney Theatrical Group produces and licenses live events, including Disney on Broadway, Disney On Ice and Disney Live!

Culver City, CA, June 20, 2016 – In a move signaling an expansion of its output and increased
year-round production across multiple platforms, Sony Pictures Animation
announced today its slate through 2018 which includes five theatrical features,
three television series and one direct-to-video movie.

Kristine Belson, President of Sony
Pictures Animation, says, “We are meaningfully stepping up our level of
production, while creating an environment that fosters the best talent. Our
goal is to enlarge our presence in the animation landscape with a uniquely
diverse slate, and our strategy to get there is to let artists drive the movies
creatively.”

Tom Rothman, Chairman of Sony
Pictures Motion Picture Group, adds, “I could not be more proud of the way
Kristine Belson has rebuilt Sony Pictures Animation into the boldest home for
animation in the industry.”

Sony Pictures Animation’s slate
includes a diverse mix of originals and franchises, some previously announced,
each with its own unique style and tone, underscoring the Studio’s pledge to
develop projects aimed both inside and outside of the Sony Pictures Animation
family brand intended for traditional, as well as online, distribution
platforms.

THEATRICAL FEATURES

·SMURFS: THE LOST
VILLAGE—a fully-animated
comedy that delivers a fresh new take on the famous blue creatures and marks a
return to the tone and style of the beloved comic book creations of Peyo—hits
theaters April 7, 2017. The feature is directed by Kelly Asbury (SHREK 2, GNOMEO & JULIET),
produced by Jordan Kerner (THE SMURFS 1 & 2, CHARLOTTE’S WEB),
co-produced by Mary Ellen Bauder Andrews (HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA) and
written by Stacey Harman and Pamela Ribon, based on the characters and works of
Peyo. The voice cast includes Demi Lovato as Smurfette, Jack McBrayer as
Clumsy, Joe Manganiello as Hefty, Danny Pudi as Brainy, and Rainn Wilson as
Gargamel, with Mandy Patinkin as Papa.

·EMOJIMOVIE: EXPRESS YOURSELF will offer a surprising and comic take on the secret world of our
phones and the beloved characters that have become daily necessities in global interpersonal
communication. The feature, targeting an August 2017 theatrical release, is
directed by Anthony Leondis, produced by Michelle Raimo Kouyate, and written by
Anthony Leondis & Eric Siegel.

·THE STAR (working title) is scheduled for a December 8, 2017 theatrical release.
The computer-animated feature is directed by Oscar nominee Timothy Reckart (HEAD OVER HEELS); executive produced by DeVon
Franklin, Lisa Henson, and Brian Henson; co-produced by Jenni Magee Cook; and
written by Carlos Kotkin and Simon Moore. In The Star, a small but brave donkey and
his animal friends become the unsung heroes of the greatest story
ever told, the first Christmas. Sony Pictures Animation produces in
association with The Jim Henson Company.

·HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA
3—the follow-up to Sony Pictures
Animation’s highest grossing film in the U.S. and the biggest opening ever for
a domestic September release —is scheduled to hit theaters September 21, 2018. Director
Genndy Tartakovsky (DEXTER’S LABORATORY,
STAR WARS: CLONE WARS), who returns
to helm this brand new adventure, says, “I thought I was done exploring the
world of HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA after the
first two films, but while I was away from the franchise finishing my TV show SAMURAI JACK, an idea sparked that I got
really excited about and made it irresistible to return and helm myself this
third adventure.” Michelle Murdocca is back producing, with Adam Sandler
executive producing, and Michael McCullers (AUSTIN
POWERS: THE SPY WHO SHAGGED ME, BOSS
BABY) writing the screenplay. Adam Sandler, Selena Gomez and Andy Samberg
will be returning as the voices of Dracula, his vampire daughter Mavis, and her
human husband Johnny.

·From Phil Lord
& Christopher Miller, the geniuses behind THE LEGO MOVIE, comes an animated SPIDER-MAN feature slated
for theatrical release December 21, 2018. The film is being written by Phil
Lord. Avi Arad, Amy Pascal, Phil Lord & Christopher Miller are producing; Craig
Sost is co-producing. Bob Persichetti (head of story on PUSS IN BOOTS and THE LITTLE
PRINCE) is directing.

ANIMATED SERIES

·A brand new animated television
series, GHOSTBUSTERS: ECTO FORCE, will further expand the Ghostbusters
cinematic universe and focus on a new generation of Ghostbusters in the year
2050 who capture ghosts around the world with help from local teams—and some
very cool gear! The younger-skewing Sony Pictures Animation project is being
creatively spearheaded by Ivan Reitman and his production company Ghost Corps. GHOSTBUSTERS: ECTO FORCE is eyeing an
early 2018 debut.

·HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA: THE
TELEVISION SERIES is targeted for a 2017 airdate. The
animated television series, produced in partnership with Corus Entertainment’s
Nelvana, will focus on the teenage years of Mavis, Dracula’s daughter, and her
friends. It will be airing on the Disney Channel worldwide.

·CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS is slated for its television series incarnation airdate in 2017. The 2D
animated small-screen series, produced in partnership with DHX Media and
commissioned by TELETOON in Canada, will expand on the adventures of the
computer-animated feature films and will air on Cartoon Network in the U.S. and
Turner channels across EMEA, APAC and Latin American markets.

DIRECT-TO-VIDEO

·SURF’S UP 2: WAVEMANIA will debut on home entertainment in the Spring of 2017. Directed by
Henry Yu and produced by Michelle Wong, the follow-up to the 2007 Oscar nominee
will hit the shores in time for the 10-year anniversary of the franchise. The
project is in partnership with WWE Studios (NYSE:WWE) and Sony Pictures Home
Entertainment. The voice cast includes
WWE Superstars John Cena®, The Undertaker®, Triple H®,
Diva Paige™ and Mr. McMahon® as an an infamous big wave riding crew
of penguins known as The Hang 5 which Cody Maverick convinces to let him join
on their journey to a mysterious surf spot where legend has it they’ll find the
biggest waves in the world.